Bamboo In The Garden (China Exhibit)
There are two types of bamboos. The runners, which are more suited to cooler climates, give the plant its bad reputation, because they send out roots that will travel 10 to 15 feet a year. Some people recommend dropping a pot of bamboo into the ... [... more]
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Cacti And Succulents
Cactus enthusiast Dennis Hoidal has grown cacti and succulents for 15 years, and what began as hobby has developed into a full-time business with an inventory of close to one million plants. He became interested in growing cacti when he gave one ... [... more]
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Exotic And Unusual Plants
Staghorn fern (Platycerium) is native to tropical regions, where it grows on trees. Home gardeners sometimes grow staghorns on slabs of bark, in hanging baskets or on a board covered with sphagnum moss. The best growing medium is peat moss or ... [... more]
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Plants Native To The Orient
Flowering quince (Chaenomeles), a deciduous shrub, is native to China and Japan and produces an abundance of white, pink or apricot blossoms in early spring. Its fruit is used to make jams, jellies and chutney. Most quince species have thorny ... [... more]
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Topiaries (France Exhibit)
The aptly named poodle-pompon topiary is created by gradually pruning away the parts you want to disappear. First mark them with tape or paint, and then cut away the excess. It isn't necessary to make a perfect pompon right away: take your time ... [... more]
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Arid Garden
Finally, to give the garden a desert look, use gravel mulch to cover the surfaces around the plants. Pea-gravel, thick sand or crushed rock are all materials that you might consider using to provide the look of arid topography in your garden ... [... more]
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Bromeliads
If you see a shoot -- or "pup" -- forming beside your plant (figure C), be aware that you can snap it from the main plant and pot it. Place a little growing medium in the pot, position the pup in it, and then fill the pot the rest of the way. .. ... [... more]
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A Desert Sanctuary
In designing their garden, George and Robbie took advantage of a concept called the nurse-plant relationship--the natural occurrence of tough plants growing next to weaker ones to nurse them along. They're imitated that natural protection by ... [... more]
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Ultimate Garden Workshop -- Greenhouse Features
There are two distinct fans in this greenhouse. An air-circulating fan (figure A) does what the name implies -- gently circulating the air to prevent stagnant spots or stale air. It keeps air moving throughout the structure. This fan runs ... [... more]
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Geraniums (Germany Exhibit)
To determine when the new plant is ready to repot, don't tug on it! Gently turn the pot upside down and look for small white roots protruding from the drainage holes. If you see any, it's ready to be repotted. To keep your geranium flowering, ... [... more]
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Cold Protection
An easy way to provide plant protection is to plant the plants in containers. At the end of the fall season, when cold nights and frost are a possibility, the pots can be lifted and brought to a protected area, such as a garage or greenhouse. ... [... more]
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Hanging Succulent Basket
Want to add a Southwestern flavor to your decor? Start small, with a hanging basket of succulents and cactus, says show host Kim Haworth. This is the planting procedure she recommends: Add a mix of succulent plants such as aloe vera. Lay the ... [... more]
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